Bring Back the Greek Gods

Zeus	Zeus	Zeus
Apollo	Athena	Dionysus
Aphrodite	Aphrodite	Aphrodite

By Mary Lefkowitz Edited by Andy Ross The polytheistic Greeks did not advocate killing those who worshiped different gods, and they did not pretend that their religion provided the right answers. Openness to discussion and inquiry is a distinguishing feature of Greek theology. It suggests that collective decisions often lead to a better outcome. Respect for a diversity of viewpoints informs the cooperative system of government the Athenians called democracy. The Greeks and Romans did not share the narrow view of the ancient Hebrews that a divinity could only be masculine. Like many other ancient peoples in the eastern Mediterranean, the Greeks recognized female divinities. The world, as the Greek philosopher Thales wrote, is full of gods, and all deserve respect and honor. Such a generous understanding of the nature of divinity allowed the ancient Greeks and Romans to accept and respect other people's gods. What they did not approve of was atheism. The existence of many different gods also offers a more plausible account than monotheism of the presence of evil and confusion in the world. As the Greeks saw it, the gods made life hard for humans, didn't seek to improve the human condition and allowed people to suffer and die. Mortals were free to speculate about the character and intentions of the gods. By allowing mortals to ask hard questions, Greek theology encouraged them to learn, to seek all the possible causes of events. Philosophy had its roots in such theological inquiry. As did science. Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic traditions.

Walhalla am Donau